The List

This post hit home tonight, especially after a long day of trying to cross things off my list and still console a sick baby.  I'll copy the poem here because I always want to be able to find it and remind myself of the truly important things in life.

The List

by Erin Hamilton Mason

There’s a list on my table
of things to be done,
there is laundry to fold,
and errands to run,
a letter of thanks
I’ve been meaning to write,
a stack of old papers
to put out of sight,
there is dinner to plan,
I should get to the store,
but I still haven’t showered,
and it’s almost four,
the weeds must be picked,
the furniture dusted,
the vacuuming done,
the sprinklers adjusted,
the dishes are piling
quite high in the sink,
and the printer for days
has been flashing “low ink”,
the car is on empty,
the milk’s almost gone,
the light I just changed
in the hall won’t turn on,
there are phone calls to make,
there are bills still to pay,
my body is willing,
and yet kept at bay
by the sweet little angel,
his face softly glowing,
who dreams in my arms,
without even knowing
the peace that he brings me,
how heaven draws near,
and things of eternity
all become clear:
that I am a mother,
my calling divine,
of highest importance
in the grand design,
and though obligations
and chores can’t be missed,
holding my baby
is first on my list.

After Dinner Walk & First Time in Manual Mode

I've been  slightly  very annoyed with the Daylight Saving Time switch this week.  It's been 4 days and my kids are still struggling to get to bed when they're supposed to and get up in time to get ready for school.  It's been especially hard on Little Sister as I've had to wake her up both in the morning to drop her brothers off at school AND wake her early from her nap to make the return trip to school at pick up time.

But I digress, I WAS annoyed with the time change until Big Guy and Little Dude were begging me to take them for a walk today.  The weather was beautiful and after dinner we headed out to a local walking trail to get some exercise.  The extra sunlight made this possible and we had a wonderful time.  At the last second I grabbed my camera before jumping in the car thinking it would be a good opportunity to practice.

I'm a novice photographer.  Actually, I wouldn't consider myself a photographer at all.  I just got my first non point-and-shoot camera less than a week ago as a combined gift from my entire family and my in-laws.  I'm beyond excited and have been playing with it everyday and learning to take good better pictures.  Today I decided to try shooting completely in Manual Mode and I was so happy that a few pictures actually turned out well!

Mr. G and Little Sister

Big Guy

Little Dude

All About Me & The Family G

My name is Tabitha and I'm known around here as Mama.  I just turned 30 years old and I'm excited about it!  I thought it was funny how many birthday wishes I received that included the advice not to get discouraged and life gets better from here on out.  I know that!  I did not have any hesitations with hitting a new decade.  No promises when I approach my 40th birthday though ;)

I grew up in sunny, beautiful Southern California.  I'll always love the beach and mild, sunny weather!  Right after graduating high school I moved to Utah to attend Brigham Young University, married Mr. G a few years later, and we stayed in Utah while he finished his Bachelor's and Masters Degrees.  In 2009 we moved to a small town about an hour outside Atlanta, GA so he could continue his education and earn a PhD.   And here we are!  I must say, the South agrees with me and I may have had a little Southern Belle living inside of me all along!

We are a simple family who love to do things together.  Our favorite activities include playing board games, watching Wipeout or America's Funniest Home Videos, taking walks, and feeding the ducks at the pond down the street.  We enjoy telling stories and playing games in the car and around the dinner table.

Big Guy is 5 years old and just about to start Kindergarten.  He is quite the little athlete. Every sport comes naturally to him, but his favorites are golf and baseball. He also loves to sing, draw, and tell people what to do. He's very quiet and serious, but loves to laugh and goof around when he's around people he knows well.   

Little Dude is 3 going on 8.   He is very imaginative and loves to play pretend- anything from being a dog or superhero (or a dog who is a superhero) to pretending there are purple and pink crocodiles who are trying to eat us. He is tiny for his age, but he's got the spunk to make up for his size. He is too smart for his own good and will give me many sleepless nights when he's a teenager, I'm sure.  He's also the funniest person I've ever met!

Baby Sister is our true Georgia Peach!  She turned 1 in November and is quite the girly-girl.  She loves all things pink or covered in sparkles and is usually accessorized with at least 3 necklaces and a hair bow or two.  She is full of spirit and loves to be the center of attention. Baby Sister is a very happy and friendly girl and is not afraid to say hi or play peek-a-boo with anyone.  We're excited to see her personality develop over the next few years.

So, that's us in a nutshell.  I'm sure you'll learn much more soon enough!

Just What Is This Anyway?

I've done the blog thing before.  A couple times actually.  I was really great at updating a family blog and keeping our friends and family in the loop about things that were happening in our lives.  Until my oldest turned 2 and my baby was starting to become mobile.  I also attempted a daily photography blog.  That lasted about 19 weeks.  Not bad, really, but I found that even a quick blog post every night was asking too much from an over-worked and over-tired Mama.

So here I am today.  Almost 3 years since my last blog post.  What do I want to accomplish this time?  I'm really looking for a place to share things about ME that may or may not have to do with my husband and kids.  I love being a Mama and all the joys and hard times that come along with it.  But, I do need to be more than a Mama sometimes, too.  This is a place to share all things that have to do with me.

I know I can't separate myself fully from my husband and children completely.  They are, after all, a huge part of who I am today and the big motivation behind most of what I do and what I love.  However, I need to attempt to not lose site of the girl woman inside that sometimes gets lost in the day-to-day shuffle of kids, housework, and errands.

So, look forward to posts about crafty things, photography, books, and general musings of a stay-at-home Mama.  And of course I'll share the funny, and not-so-funny, antidotes that amuse me and my family.

Enjoy!